Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) runs with the ball during a game between Tennessee and ETSU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) lines up a pass during the Belk College Kickoff between Tennessee and West Virginia at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, September 1, 2018. MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) walks off the field after the end of the game during a game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday Nov. 25, 2017. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) is helped up after being shaken up by a play during an game between Tennessee and Southern Miss at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017. Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano's (2) helmet falls off as he is tackled by South Carolina defensive lineman Taylor Stallworth (90) and South Carolina defensive lineman D.J. Wonnum (8) during the second half of a Tennessee vs. South Carolina game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Michael Patick/News Sentinel

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) passing on the run during the second half of their 17-13 win over UMass Minutemen Saturday, Sep. 23, 2017 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Dylan Wiesman (71) hikes the ball to Jarrett Guarantano (2) during the fifth practice of University of Tennessee football preseason, at University of Tennessee on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. CAITIE MCMEKIN/USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

No. 3

QB Jarrett Guarantano

Why he matters

Jarrett Guarantano is in line to be Tennessee's starting quarterback. That means he matters a heck of a lot.

But Guarantano still has work to do between now and the Sept. 1 season opener against West Virginia to secure the starting job.

Coach Jeremy Pruitt said at SEC Media Days that he views the quarterback battle as a "four-man competition."

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"It's going to be important for us to whittle it down as soon as we possibly can, but all four guys will definitely get a shot to start with," Pruitt said.

That's the diplomatic thing for Pruitt to say, but it would come as something of a surprise if true freshman JT Shrout or Will McBride, whom Guarantano held off in the spring, wins the starting job.

Logic says it'll be Guarantano or graduate transfer Keller Chryst, who enrolled this summer. And Guarantano enters August practice as the leader in the clubhouse after completing 15 of 27 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions while guiding the starting offense in the spring game. He was named the game's most valuable player.

Guarantano accumulated a lot of battle scars last year as a redshirt freshman while making seven starts after taking the starting job from Quinten Dormady. He was frequently sacked, a combination of shoddy pass protection and Guarantano sometimes holding onto the ball too long.

However, Guarantano also showed flashes of his potential. He did his best work in his last four starts against Kentucky, Southern Mississippi, LSU and Vanderbilt.

He's had to adjust to Tyson Helton's pro-style system during the offseason, with one change being that Guarantano will take more snaps under center. The change in scheme might benefit Guarantano, who is a mobile quarterback but a pocket passer at his core.

Chryst is a veteran who went 11-2 as a starter at Stanford before losing the job last season. He's the safety valve if Guarantano falters, but Guarantano has the higher ceiling and should have the chance to prove he can be UT's QB both now and into the future.